I've made myself stop watching the news. If you don't watch or listen .... or don't go outside and look over at the city ... or see the candles (some still burning) on the sidewalk .... if you stay inside, maybe walk into your closet and shut the door ... if you stay in bed, stay perfectly still, quiet and pull the covers over your head ....

.... everything seems normal. As it should be.

I love fall. I'm at Hudson County park. Sitting under a tree. My throat hurts. I should've bought cough drops but I bought a bottle of Gatorage instead. I was thirsty. I wasn't sure if I had enough money and I didn't want to embarass myself. I feel like falling asleep. Like Alice. I'm not sleepy. I just feel I should because it's a perfect day.

5:47:30 pm

I'm having soup. Got back from the park a while ago. I did a little sketching. But mostly I just sat under the tree and people-watched. Before heading back ... I stood and watched a goose on the water. Grooming itself. I swear .... it was the most beautiful thing I've seen in a long time. I can't even describe it. The water was shallow and it stood on a rock that was just just under the water. So it almost seem to just be floating there. Perfectly still on the water. So beautiful. And then these ripples. Wow ... the ripples were just ... I dunno ... They just kept moving out. Like a circular force-field around the bird. It was incredibly beautiful. Every now and then tiny feathers would fall on the water and go out with the ripples.

I stood there for a good 15 minutes or so. Just looking at it. And looking at it ... look at me. I thought ....

Do you have any idea how beautiful you are? You do ... don't you? You can never be seen as ugly ... I wish I had that sort of power...

I was interupted by this girl who wanted me to take a picture of her and two guys. I don't think she knew much English. She nudged me ... smiled and said "Please?"